WALK-IN centres in Bury and Prestwich will close this year, it was decided today.

Despite widespread criticism, health bosses have chosen to close the two centres as part of urgent care reforms that will take place across the borough.

The decision was taken at the NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group governing body meeting as protestors gathered outside this afternoon, January 18.

Both of the borough’s walk-in centres will be closed by the end of September this year with patients directed through alternative services.

Stuart North, chief officer of Bury CCG, said: “The intention is people will have alternative ways of accessing the right care place for the right care.

“We have an urgent care system that is failing despite measures we have introduced in Bury to improve things. The walk-in-centres do not reduce admissions, they just direct people to where they can find care.”

A report presented to the Bury CCG governing body yesterday revealed that since alternative services have been introduced in the borough there has been a “dramatic reduction” of 12,989 attendances over an 18-month period at Moorgate and Prestwich walk-in centres.

It also noted that the changes had not resulted in an increase in attendances at Fairfield Hospital accident and emergency department.

Instead, extended GP working hours saw “hundreds of evening and weekend primary care appointments delivered every week”, and about 3,000 Bury patients a month were choosing to dial the NHS111 service during out of hours.

A commissioned Wound Care Service is also being increased to provide care in six locations around the borough.

Instead of using the walk-in centres, it is intended that patients with non-urgent needs should call the NHS111 service which will either offer health advice, set-up a face-to-face appointment or direct them to the Bury Virtual Hub.

The hub was launched nine days ago and operates with clinicians who have access to patients’ medical records, enabling them to find the best service to meet their needs.

The decision to close the centres follows a public survey process which gathered 1,012 responses from people, 83 per cent of whom disagreed or strongly disagreed with the closures.

Opposition included Bury South MP Ivan Lewis who, speaking in Parliament on Tuesday said: “It seems absolutely bonkers at a time when patients are being told not to go to A&E to then close a walk-in centre.”

The protest outside the governing body meeting was organised by Bury Labour Party.

One protestor, Enid Shelmerdine, said: “Funding is at the heart of it all. The government is telling us to go to walk-ins and not to go to A&E — we can’t go if it’s not there. What about the homeless or anyone on the street — they don’t have a GP to go to.

“A lot of people will be affected.”

The contract for both walk-in centres, operated by Pennine Care Foundation Trust, expires at the end of March.

The CCG will not renew the service at Moorgate Primary Care Centre, however, the service at Prestwich will continue until the end of September, to allow for a crossover.

Dr Victoria Moyle, clinical lead for urgent care, added: “We are unable to identify a specific service provided by the walk-in service that could not be found at another service “We are not taking away face-to-face appointments, they will still be there, just delivered differently.

“The engagement process highlights that people wanted to keep care local, and we recognise that. We have extended GP hours and access to primary care.”

“The problem appears to be that not a lot of people know about it.

An online petition set up by the Bury Labour Party attracted more than 7,000 signatures.

Speaking of the decision to go-ahead with closures, Mr Lewis said: “It is shocking Bury CCG is pressing ahead with its plans.

“At a time when the NHS is in crisis and patients are being asked to avoid using A&E departments, the walk-in centre has never been more important.

“This decision flies in the face of common sense and the views of the vast majority of people who responded to their recent survey.”

Cllr Rishi Shori, Leader of Bury Council added: “This is very disappointing news.

“We have serious concerns about the reduction in access to healthcare this decision could create and the impact on some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.”

Pennine Care director Stuart Richardson said staff will be relocated.